Golden Whisper, on 7lbs better terms, must surely reverse recent Chelmsford placings with Imperial Mountain in the thirteen-runner Novice Stakes over seven furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today, last two-year-old race of this year; for many weight will count for nothing if Archie Watson’s charge doesn’t come out superior!
Over this distance you can reliably interpret about 2lbs a length for juveniles and so it will be interesting to see how the main protagonists are priced on betting boards.
Hollie Doyle was intent on sorting out the consistent, hitherto luckless favourite, Atheby, but the ‘pocket rocket’ might have overdone the front-running because approaching the final furlong both were in trouble and Imperial Mountain came storming down the outside to beat them both three lengths; positive tactics cost Golden Whisper and the Helmet filly lost out by a neck for second place.
Doubtless Adam McNamara will be instructed by trainer Archie Watson to drop in from stall twelve and ‘ride a race’ which I’m certain will favour Golden Whisper but it will be enthralling to watch this pan out with jockey Jason Hart mindful of the tremendous surge Imperial Mountain produced eighteen days ago. I’ll be surprised if the issue doesn’t rest between them.
Rest of the eight-race card is made up of difficult handicaps which would involve guessing and attention is focused two ‘heavy’ ground jumping fixtures at Warwick and Uttoxeter where successful trainer/jockey combination Fergal O’Brien and Paddy Brennan will expect Manofthepeople to go oblige in the opening nine-runner Maiden Hurdle over three miles on the back of a career-best effort on the stiff Chepstow course six weeks ago. Clear top-rated and not one to oppose without good reason.
A similar comment applies to Chris Gordon-trained Happy Boy, my last selection of 2021 in the nine-runner ‘bumper’ over two miles at the quality Warwickshire course where the only danger will probably be Steal My Sunshine from the powerful Dan Skelton yard. Should be a cracker.
Happy and prosperous New Year to all readers who know the folly of ‘gambling’ and realise investing on advice in this column makes sound sense.
I’ll give you one to watch out for, Groundbreaker, on the flat.
Selections, Uttoxeter, 12.22 Manofthepeople (e.w); Lingfield, 2.25 Golden Whisper (e.w); Warwick, 3.15 Happy Boy (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019